The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Ukrainians adjust to life with a constant threat from airstrikes

By Pamela Constable and Anastacia Galouchka

21 Jun 2023 · 4 min read

informed Summary

  1. Residents of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, have become accustomed to daily air raid warnings due to the 16-month-old conflict with Russia.

KYIV, Ukraine - When the familiar siren sounded midmorning Friday, nobody in the penthouse terrace cafe looked up. A few minutes later, the hostess went from table to table, politely asking people to go inside. Laptops were snapped shut, tote bags were shouldered, lattes were poured from china cups into plastic glasses.

Ten minutes later, most of the patrons were settled on wooden benches in the building's underground parking garage. There was no hurry or commotion. Laptops were reopened, coffees sipped through straws, chats resumed on smartphones. It was a seamless, routine exercise; a wartime habit that has become second nature.

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